Princess Shu

“Why didn’t you call out to me then?”

“I thought you’d look back.”

Schuden said so and hugged Valia’s waist. She flinched at the unexpected contact, but that didn’t stop him from letting go of her. His smooth movements brought her to the front of their wedding portrait. It was a picture of a man and woman wearing a white tuxedo and wedding dress.

“I thought there wouldn’t be enough space. But it fits perfectly.”

“Pardon?”

“Hmm?”

“Oh… No. So you hung this yourself.”

“That’s part of the ceremony, and also part of a custom.”

Schuden answered Valia’s question in a nonchalant way but suddenly frowned as if he felt strange. The silvery-gray eyes that looked up at him closely still did not have any emotions. It still felt refreshing, but her voice just now clearly contained surprise. Schuden caught it keenly.

“Valia.”

“Yes.”

“Did you think I would ask a servant to hang it for me?”

Valia feigned ignorance and turned away. Schuden raised his eyebrows.

“Valia.”

“It’s not like that.”

Valia played innocent for now. Schuden asked with a dumbfounded look.

“What do you mean it’s not like that?”

“I mean it’s not what you suspect.”

“What did I suspect?”

“I must have misunderstood you.”

“Valia.”

Because Schuden was hugging her waist, Valia could not even step back. She deliberately turned away from him, but as he lightly grabbed her chin, Valia naturally faced Schuden. They were close enough to have a kiss. 

When he was about to say something, the words of a servant could be heard.

“My Lord, Madam. The bath is ready.”

Valia’s face brightened by the servant who came just in time. Anyone could tell that she was happy because she could escape the situation. Schuden tried to look at Valia with disapproval, but upon seeing her smiley face, he could not do that.

It can’t be helped. It’s not like I can really get angry at my wife.

They went up to the second floor. Based on the small living room and bedroom located in the center of the stairs, the Marquess’ bathroom was at the right end and the Marchioness’ bathroom was at the left end. So they could separate in front of the bedroom and head to each bathroom.

“Hmm, Your Excellency?”

“Yes, my wife?”

Valia called him carefully.

“…Why are you coming this way?”

Schuden was supposed to go straight to the right and go to his bathroom, but he followed Valia. There was a clear distinction between left and right, the road did not overlap either. Valia was embarrassed to say it first and was just waiting for him to leave. She looked at Schuden, who did not leave until he reached the bathroom, and tried to read his expression. Seeing the maids standing in front of the bathroom with their eyes wide open, it seemed that she was not the only one who had a strange imagination.

‘Is he going to take a bath with me together…?’

There were times when couples who led a happily married life took a bath together. But that was not their case. Valia was still on the stage where she could not even look straight at the nude male figure on the bed. That was also the reason Schuden kept raising her chin to kiss her when she kept avoiding his eyes on their first night. If he asked her to walk into a bathtub, a place that was brighter than the bedroom, Valia would faint from embarrassment and shame.

“But, umm, this is the Marchioness’ bathroom…”

“I know.”

Schuden answered plainly and did not slow down. Even though Valia’s pace was as slow as a snail, he even waited for her without rushing her. The closer they got to the bathroom, the better she could see the faces of the maids. They went red as a beetroot, and her ears were probably as red as their faces. 

Now they were at a distance where she could easily talk to the maids. It also meant that they were close to the bathroom. Valia stuttered.

“Well, Your Excellency, I’m still not used to this kind of thing.”

“This kind of thing?”

Schuden looked back at Valia. He raised one hand and lightly wrapped it around her cheek. Feeling Schuden’s cold hand, she realized that her face seemed to have heated up a lot. Schuden tilted his head slightly toward Valia.

“I’m just escorting you.”

“…Pardon?”

“Of course, I also wanted to tease you.”

“…”

Valia’s face became blank. Schuden went into a brief burst of laughter. 

He gave her temple a light kiss.

“See you in the bedroom, my dear.”

Schuden told the maids to take care of Valia and walked away. Valia stared blankly at his back as he strode away with his tall legs, then she wrapped her hands around her cheeks. She was skilled in hiding her emotions but she could not freely control this kind of physical phenomenon.

Her hot cheeks subsided only when the maids began to thoroughly wash her body.

“Madam, shall we go with rose oil or lily rose today? Or there’s also lilac oil.”

“We put on rose oil yesterday…”

“…Put on lily today.”

“Yes, Madam.”

It was obvious why she applied and massaged fragrant oil all over her body, so obvious that she could only smirk. It was understandable to imagine that their night would be hot as they were newlyweds, however, that was only the case for when they took a honeymoon leave and had time and energy left.

‘He must be tired since he went to the training ground today.’

Though not formal knight training, Valia had at least received basic training. On the first day, after a couple of hours of training, she had an opportunity to watch the knights sparring. Even though their skills were unrivaled since they were the Imperial knights, they still worked hard until they were sweating heavily. That was when Valia first found out that the knight’s training was so difficult and hard.

‘…But he does seem like he has good stamina.’

Naturally, it reminded her of the night before, it had also made her recall the kiss marks that she had forgotten for a moment. The kiss marks were clearly imprinted on her body this morning so it would still remain until now. No wonder the faces of the maids who were massaging her body looked red. She was embarrassed again but if she made it look obvious, it would be more embarrassing. Valia feigned ignorance and closed her eyes. The sweet scent of lily permeated her nose.

“Have a good night, Madam.”

Valia entered the bedroom after being greeted by the maids. Schuden did not seem to have come yet. Standing in front of the closed door, she fell into agony for a short moment.

For some reason, she felt awkward.

Valia wondered if she should be sitting in bed like Schuden did the night before. And when he entered the bedroom, she did not know what expression to make so she could not step inside. Schuden’s red eyes hid a strange dark beauty. Perhaps that was the reason. Even if he looked a little drowsy, he gave off a tense feeling as if the air itself was changing. Valia did not have such a look or expression.

When she was standing at the door without doing this or that, a voice seeped into her ears.

“Valia, why are you standing there?”

When did he come in?

The couple bedroom door was well managed, so every time it opened or closed, no sound could be heard. Schuden had just finished taking a bath and had a nice scent. At his sudden appearance, Valia was at a loss as to what to say and just blinked. Schuden took turns between looking at the empty bed and his wife, who stood silently in front of the door without unanswering. Then, he reached out to her.

“Do you want me to hug you and take you to the bed?”

“What? No, it’s not like that.”

Valia was surprised. Smirking, Schuden reached out to her. He had never dragged her, and so she was always grateful for his trivial consideration. She gently grabbed his hand. The hand of a sword holder was hard with calluses. Valia could vaguely read the traces of a long fight in his hand.

“You always seem overly surprised every time I speak. As you did before.”

“…Because Your Excellency only says surprising things.”

Sitting in bed together was always exciting. Soft pillows and cushions filled with feathers comfortably wrapped their backs. Valia liked having her husband by her side, it was also nice that her husband was Schuden.

She felt it every time but he was a man who attracted women. His half-wet reddish-blonde hair and the rim of his eyes were slightly reddened from the water. His silk gown slightly revealed his solid chest muscles. Moreover, his personality was not as cold as she vaguely expected. Schuden joked to Valia often and he laughed more than expected.

If she liked this side of Schuden, Valia should also put in an effort. So that he did not get angry, she should know what she needed to know and be careful in advance. When she tried to open her mouth after organizing what she had to say, Schuden called her first.

“Valia.”

“Yes?”

“Come to think of it, why have you been calling me Your Excellency since yesterday?”

“Pardon?”

“You didn’t call me that at first.”

Valia blinked her eyes at his unexpected question. 

“That was because… Your Excellency told me to call you ‘Schu’.”

“Then call me by my name even now.”

“What?”

“There is no case where a wife calls her husband ‘Your Excellency.’ It’s more formal than calling me ‘Marquess Garth’.”

He was right. Unless it was the Imperial Palace with a clear hierarchy, the noble couples of The Gel Empire called each other by their names or by their family name and title─‘Marquess Garth,’ for example. The latter was used only when the couples were no better than strangers. Valia knew about it. But…

“Can I call you ‘Schu’?”

Valia preferred the name Schuden first introduced to her. She felt like she had become a special person for him. 

When Valia asked carefully, he gave her a small nod. Her face brightened up.

“Then, Schu. I want to ask you something.”

“Ask away.”

It was a delightful acceptance. Schuden had actually already thought up a question that he already expected.

‘The tart.’

Schuden expected Valia to ask him about the tart. As she did not ask him after finishing the meals and going to see the portraits together in the exhibition room, now was the best time to ask. 

Should I tell her straightforwardly that I ate all the tarts she sent me or should I tell her differently?

Either way, he could not expect Valia’s reaction. 

Would she be happy or would she just answer casually, saying she was glad and just showed her calm smile as usual?

 Schuden thought so and looked at Valia.

“In the manor…”

“The manor?”

“Is there any place I should not enter or items I should not touch?”